At approximately 9:30 a.m., Bridgewater Police and Fire responded to the intersection of Bedford Street (Route 18) and Grove Street after several 911 callers reported a two-vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, police learned that a Subaru Legacy, driven by an 81-year-old man from Franklin, pulled out of Grove Street in front of a Hull Police SUV that was traveling south on Bedford Street. The Hull cruiser then struck the Subaru, causing it to hit a telephone pole.

Bridgewater firefighters utilized the hydraulic rescue tools to free the 81-year-old man from his vehicle.

Hull K-9 Police Officer John Mercer and the driver of the Subaru sustained serious injuries that are not believed to be life threatening and were transported by ambulance to an area hospital. Hull K-9 “Kenny” was in the vehicle at the time of the crash, but was not injured.

Bedford Street remained closed for approximately two hours while officers from Bridgewater and Raynham Police Departments, along with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, conducted accident reconstruction. Chief Delmonte wishes to express his gratitude to all agencies that assisted in town today.

“I would like to extend well wishes and a speedy recovery to our Hull K-9 Officer and the other driver involved in this crash,” Hull Police Chief John Dunn said.

The crash remains under investigation by the Bridgewater Police Department.

Hull Public Schools Receive MCAS Results

Hull Students Consistently Exceeded Statewide Average for Math and English Testing Results

HULL — Superintendent Michael F. Devine reports that the Hull Public Schools have received and reviewed the district’s Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam scores, and he is pleased to note that Hull students consistently exceeded statewide average scores.

“The results show clearly what we in the community already know: that Hull students are bright, strong, and motivated, and that they are receiving an excellent education in the Hull Public Schools,” Superintendent Devine said. “That said, the raw numbers indicate, as they always do, that we still have work to do, and we can always improve.”

Hull Public Schools students partially met, fully met, or exceeded expectations at rates higher than the state average in every category tested, except for eighth grade mathematics.

The results are insightful, especially considering the fact that this was the first year for students in grades three through eight to take the Next Generation MCAS tests. The students were taking the third different type of test in four years, with the MCAS and PARCC tests being replaced this year in grades three through eight and next year in grade 10. With the new exams adding a new challenge to students, state officials expect test results to improve in future years.

The school district was designated “no level” on this year’s assessment. “No level” is a new designation, which indicates that the district as a whole is not earmarked for improvement. (Previously called Level 1)

The district noted three areas of concern:

First, the Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School was designated a Level 3 school because of a new rule that penalizes schools if fewer than 90 percent of any category of student take any one portion of the exam. At the school, three fifth grade students refused to take the Science and Technology/Engineering assessment. That factor, alone, resulted in the Level 3 designation, even though the school performed very well on the assessment, and would have been given “No Level” otherwise.

“We are appealing this designation, as it is very unfortunate and it does not paint an accurate picture of the true academic performance at the Jacobs Elementary School,” Superintendent Devine said. “The truth is that nearly all of our elementary school students are proficient in Math, English and Science, and three students refusing to take an exam should not denigrate the hundreds who took the exam and performed well. It further creates an unwarranted stigma for the hardworking teachers whose success in the classroom deserves a better report card from the Commonwealth.”

Second, while eighth graders were Partially Meeting, Meeting, or Exceeding state expectations in Math at a higher than average rate, it was the lowest rate in the district. Also, 40 percent of eighth graders were rated as Meeting or Exceeding expectations, which was below the state average of 47 percent.

“While it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions based on the first year of a new exam, eighth grade mathematics has been earmarked for improvement. The district will work closely with school administration and classroom teachers to ensure that math is a point of emphasis in the Middle School, and we are hopeful that we will see improvement going forward,” Superintendent Devine said.

Finally, the Hull High School was designated a Level 2 school and will seek to improve its narrowing of the achievement gap, and the state would like to see higher exam participation among economically disadvantaged students, who took the exam at a slightly lower rate than other students.

The results in English Language Arts and Mathematics are broken up into four levels: Exceeds Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Partially Meeting Expectations and Not Meeting Expectations. All 10th grade exams and all results in the Science and Technology/Engineering category are broken up into four levels: Advanced, Proficient, Needs Improvement and Warning/Failing.

Of note:

Lillian M. Jacobs Elementary School

94 percent of third grade students were at least partially proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and 92 percent in Mathematics. More than half of third graders fully met or exceeded expectations (the highest two levels) in both categories.

98 percent of fourth grade students were at least partially proficient in ELA and 94 percent in Math. Sixty-eight percent of fourth graders fully met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and 55 percent in Math.

95 percent of fifth graders were at least partially proficient in ELA and 89 percent in Math. Sixty-one percent of fifth graders fully met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and 50 percent in Math. Fifty-six percent of fifth graders were rated proficient or better in Science and Technology/Engineering. (Third/fourth graders are not tested in that category.)

Memorial Middle School

All sixth graders (100 percent) were at least partially proficient in ELA, and 92 percent in Math. Sixty-nine percent fully met or exceeded expectations in ELA.

95 percent of seventh graders were at least partially proficient in ELA, and 97 percent in Math. Fifty-nine percent fully met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and 55 percent in Math.

88 percent of eighth graders were at least particularly proficient in ELA, and 85 percent in Math. Fifty percent fully met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and 40 percent in Mathematics. Superintendent Devine notes that this is an area that is earmarked for improvement.

Hull High School

All 10th graders (100 percent) passed the exam in ELA, and 95 percent in Math. Ninety-five percent were rated as Proficient or Advanced in ELA, and 85 percent were rated as Proficient or Advanced in Math.

99 percent of 10th graders passed the Science and Technology/Engineering portion of the exam, with 88 percent rated Proficient or Advanced..

The Next Generation MCAS tests were developed after the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted in November 2015 to create a new, computer-based test that was tailored to Massachusetts. It updates the nearly 20-year-old MCAS test and is designed to give a better indication of readiness for the next grade level than older assessments.

Hull Police Arrest Burglary Suspect

HULL — Chief John E. Dunn reports that the Hull Police Department arrested a man for burglary last week.

WILLIAM FRANCIS NICKERSON, AGE 38, OF HINGHAM, is charged with:

Unarmed Burglary

Larceny of Construction Tools

Larceny from a Building

Possession of a Burglarious Instrument

Possession of Heroin (Subsequent Offense)

On Thursday, Oct. 12, at approximately 9:58 p.m., Hull Police were dispatched to 14 Lewis St. for a report of a break in progress at a home under construction. The calling party reported seeing a man entering the basement of the house.

Upon arrival, police observed an open basement door and a man identified as NICKERSON standing around several tools and construction equipment inside the home. After further investigation, police found several tools labeled with the name of the construction company that is working on the house in the bed of NICKERSON’S pick-up truck, which was parked in front of the residence.

Police learned that NICKERSON was previously fired from the construction company and did not have permission to be at the property or to take the tools. NICKERSON was placed under arrest and taken into custody without incident.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Hull High School Hosts Annual Advisory Kick-Off Day

HULL — Principal Paula Girouard McCann is pleased to announce that Hull High School hosted its eighth annual Advisory Kick-Off Day late last month.

Throughout the day on Sept. 28, students met with their advisory groups, which are designed to give students the opportunity to build positive relationships with a small group of classmates and a staff member.

During their freshman year, students are assigned to an advisory group, where they meet with approximately 15 of their peers and one faculty adviser. Throughout the year, the advisory group meets once a week to work on core values (citizenship, integrity, responsibility, creativity, lifelong learning and service) and address social-emotional learning through different strategies.

“Advisory groups are a great way for students to get to know a small group of their classmates and focus on topics relevant to our school and the community at large,” Principal McCann said. “The kickoff meeting is always one of students’ most anticipated days of the year because it brings them out of the classroom and enables them to further their learning or contribute to the community in a positive way.”

Every September, advisory groups participate in Kick-Off Day activities that are tailored to each grade level. Freshmen remained in the school and participated in a series of team building and other introductory activities with their group.

Sophomores participated in community service projects all around Hull. This year, the sophomores worked at the following locations in town:
• Sunset Point Camp
• Hull Senior Center
• Hull Council on Aging
• Beach cleanup
• Seaside Animal Rescue
• Rail and post painting at Town Hall

The juniors and seniors traveled by boat into Boston. Once there, the juniors participated in college tours of Northeastern University, Emmanuel College and Wentworth Institute of Technology while the seniors visited the Museum of Science, the New England Aquarium and Fenway Park.